Find out how popular the last name Fatema is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Fatema.

Fatema, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Fatema surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Fatema in America

Fatema is the 123064th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Fatema surname appeared 140 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Fatema.

The history of the last name Fatema

The surname Fatema originated in the Arabic-speaking regions of the Middle East and North Africa, likely first appearing around the 7th century CE. It is derived from the Arabic word "fatima," which means "to abstain" or "to wean." This name was particularly significant as it was the name of one of the daughters of the Prophet Muhammad.

Early records of the name Fatema can be found in medieval Arabic manuscripts and documents from the time of the Islamic conquests and the subsequent spread of the Arabic language and culture. It is believed that the name was initially adopted as a surname by families who traced their lineage back to the daughter of the Prophet Muhammad.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname Fatema was Fatema bint Muhammad al-Zahra, who lived in the 7th century CE and was the daughter of the Prophet Muhammad and his first wife, Khadija. She was revered by Muslims and is considered one of the most important figures in early Islamic history.

In the 12th century, a prominent scholar and mystic named Fatema al-Batayhi lived in Damascus, Syria. She was known for her expertise in Islamic jurisprudence and her teachings on Sufism, the mystical tradition within Islam.

During the Ottoman Empire, which ruled over much of the Middle East and North Africa from the 14th to the early 20th century, the surname Fatema was prevalent among families of Arab and Ottoman Turkish descent. One notable figure was Fatema Sultan, an Ottoman princess who lived in the 16th century and was known for her patronage of the arts and architecture.

In the 19th century, a Sudanese scholar and political leader named Fatema Ahmed Ibrahim played a significant role in the Mahdist Revolt against the Ottoman and British rule in Sudan. She was a prominent figure in the Mahdist movement and was respected for her knowledge of Islamic teachings.

Another individual with the surname Fatema was Fatema Mernissi, a Moroccan feminist writer and sociologist who lived from 1940 to 2015. She was known for her works exploring the role of women in Islam and advocating for greater gender equality in Islamic societies.

These are just a few examples of individuals who have borne the surname Fatema throughout history, showcasing its rich cultural and historical significance in the Arabic-speaking world and the wider Islamic world.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Fatema

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Fatema.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Fatema was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Fatema was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Fatema, please contact us.

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